Although 25 companies produce 94% of U.S. carpeting, when shopping for new carpet, you will discover hundreds of different brands and thousands of colors and textures. With that incredible selection, how do you choose the right one?
Do your homework. First consider the amount of traffic the room will take. You can use less durable carpeting where foot traffic will be light, but don't skimp where traffic will be heavy. In family rooms, dining areas, hallways and a rooms that connect directly to an entrance, be sure to choose a durable, dense cut pile, a tight level berber or cut-and-loop carpet with built-in stain resistance. Where traffic is light, you can opt for deep pile, lush saxony or whatever your heart desires. If you're going to cut corners on cost, opt for lesser-grade carpet in low-traffic areas such as bedrooms, not in high-activity areas.
Set up a budget, then estimate the amount of carpet you'll need. For each room you intend to carpet, multiply the length times the width and calculate square footage. Divide the product by 9 to get square yardage (the industry is currently moving toward a square-footage measure, but isn't there quite yet). Add 10% for room irregularities.
Then begin your search. Visit carpet dealers and showrooms until you've found a helpful, reputable dealer and swatches that please you. Once you've made a selection, request a complete quote, with carpet, including high-quality, dense cushion and installation priced separately--installation and cushion combined will probably run about $5 to $6 per square yard. Ask whether there would be an additional charge for moving furniture or removing and disposing of your old carpet and pad (doing this yourself is usually more hassle than it's worth). The written quote should include all pertinent carpet specifications: fiber, face pile weight, warranty and so forth. When evaluating price, be sure to consider long-term value--a superior carpet that won't require replacement in a few years is your best buy.
Don't be afraid to attempt negotiating the price a bit--sometimes the cushion isn't the only padding in a carpet quote. Take samples home and look at them in the rooms, using both daylight and, at night, artificial lighting. Before ordering, have the retailer or installer make final site measurements. Be sure they intend to minimize seams, which should be located where incident light won't highlight them and where traffic runs along, rather than across, them. Then, if necessary, revise the required amounts of material and adjust the price accordingly.
During and immediately following installation, it's a good idea to ventilate the house, particularly if adhesives were used (be sure to look for the CRI indoor air quality label that indicates that the carpet you've chosen has been tested and meets the Carpet and Rug Institute's criteria for low emissions).
Check the quality of installation. Be sure that the carpet is stretched tightly in place and that seams are virtually invisible. Where two or more pieces of carpet intersect, the pile should run the same direction. Detail work at thresholds, walls and stairs should be handled precisely. By combining a quality carpet with careful installation, your new floor coverings should serve beautifully for years to come.
